I could not help but sigh in pity. A lively girl like Claire, unafraid of seeing the world burn, had ended like this.

No monster attacked us for a while, maybe because we just escaped from the traps. But it only made the silence around us heavier.

Finally, after almost five minutes, Claire opened her lips.

“… The assassin, he was real, right?” She asked.

“How did you notice?”

“… When he attacked me, I somehow knew I truly was going to die.” She said.

I fell silent.

Claire chuckled bitterly and shook her head. “How useless. To think that just an assassination attempt left me like this.”

“Silly girl, don’t be so hard with yourself. It’s normal to be scared of something like that.”

“… You don’t understand, cousin. I’m a Riea, a swordsman! I’m supposed to always be calm! However, I’m afraid, I’m very very afraid! When I close my eyes, I see the man stabbing my heart! I can see his eyes looking at me with hatred… I’m afraid, cousin, I don’t want to die.”

Claire started to sob. Her beautiful blue eyes turned red due to the tears, and her petite body shook in fear. A feeling of pity surged inside of me when I saw her state.

If she doesn’t overcome this trauma, it will chase her forever.

I stopped walking and hugged her. At the same time, I sent a thread of my mana inside her body. I very carefully circulated the mana inside her to cause a calming effect.

Soon, Claire started to calm down.

“… Sorry again. You must think I’m a crybaby.”

“I don’t mind. Lena was like this until not long ago.”

Claire smiled. “I’m jealous. You sure you don’t want to be my boyfriend? We can keep it a secret if you want.”

“Little girl, if you continue teasing me I’ll devour you whole.”

Claire was startled before chuckling. “… Now I understand why sister likes you so much.”

“Is it so obvious?”

“Her gaze betrays her. One look to her eyes full of longing when she looks at you and I know what she is thinking.”

“Please keep it a secret.” I told her.

Claire nodded. “Don’t worry, I’ll also keep your strength a secret.”

“Thank you very much then.” Of course, I did not forget to put a seed on her.

“… How long have you been with my sister?” Claire asked.

“Not long. Actually, she insists that we are not together.”

“Oh, and… have you kissed?”

“… You are a very curious kid, huh. Yeah, we kissed before.”

“How nice, I also want one.”

I looked into Claire’s eyes and smiled. Suddenly, I kissed her small and soft lips.

Claire opened her eyes wide, but before she could realize what was happening, our lips had separated again.

Surprised, Claire touched her lips and opened her mouth. The next second, she turned completely red.

“Did you like it?” I asked with a smirk.

“… Idiot.” Claire said, but her lips curved into an imperceptible smile. I could feel her mood was much better than before.

At that moment, I feel the presence of a monster close to us.

Looking a Claire, I stroked her head softly. “Let’s go, it’s time to help you with your fear.”

Disclaimer

All works in this website is fiction.

Names,characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of author’s imagination or used in a fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.